Effects of coefficients of solar reflectivity and infrared emissivity on the temperature and heat flux of horizontal flat roofs of artificially conditioned nonresidential buildings

Nonresidential buildings such as shopping centers, supermarkets and factories are constructions characterized as having large roof surfaces in comparison to their external wall surfaces. When conditioned artificially, these buildings become great consumers of electricity. To reduce this consumption, insulation materials are usually used. Notwithstanding the effectiveness of such a procedure, both the cost and environmental issues (the heat-island effect) have been considered as limiting factors for its usage. In this study, we analyze the effect of the application of selective coatings (with very high reflectance for solar radiation and high emittance for infrared radiation) on the surface temperature of the roof and the heat flux that crosses it. Two roof concepts were considered, namely metal roofs both with and without conventional mass-insulation, i.e. an insulating board on the internal side or between two metal foils. The methodology adopted to solve the proposed problem was based on the heat transfer analysis of a roof composed of multiple layers. External air temperature and solar radiation are considered time-varying. The results obtained show the benefits of selective coatings in terms of reductions in both roof temperature and heat flux and, consequently, alleviation of the urban heat-island effect and reduction of electricity consumption.